THE North West Migrants Forum has given a cautious welcome to the Home Office announcement that the ‘Move On’ period for newly-recognised refugees is to double.
From Monday the time period given to transition from supported housing to other accommodation will increase from 28 days to 56 days.
The Home Office said the extension was an “interim measure” that it expects to be in place until June 2025.
The change has been introduced to help the British Government cope with the backlog of asylum applications and manage the transition from physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) to eVisas.
An extension to the Move On period is something the North West Migrants Forum has long called for and has made representations to the Home Office and to Mears on.
Gaëlle Gormley is our Welfare and Integration Officer. She said the announcement will assist those transitioning out of asylum, local communities and the Housing Executive. But she also voiced concern that the extension appears to be limited to six months, after which it could revert back to the wholly inadequate 28 days.
“The North West Migrants Forum is well aware of the stress people are put under when they are issued with a letter telling them they have four weeks to get their affairs in order and find a new place to live.
“Receiving a positive decision from the Home Office means an end to the uncertainty of the asylum system but it is also the beginning of a new journey and a new set of challenges.
“Fifty six days will mean more time to find a home, it will mean more time to arrange to move and it will allow people time to search for employment. None of these things are straightforward when you do not have money and when you are without family around you. On top of that, often people are unsure of the housing system and are not fluent in the language.
“Extending the time makes sense and this announcement will alleviate the pressure not only on those preparing to exit the asylum system but also our local housing authorities.
“From our point of view, yes, it is good news but we will be writing to the Home Office urging that the 56 days is made permanent rather than an interim measure.”